A MAN has been jailed for four years for a pub attack that left a man with part of his ear bitten off.

Frank Newbold, aged 35, of Sheriff Avenue, Canley, was a prisoner on licence when he attacked Peter Roberts in the Half Sovereign pub in Charter Avenue, Canley, in February.

At Coventry Crown Court on Friday, Judge Patrick Eccles said Newbold had been ?looking for trouble? after an allday drinking session made him behave ?offensively and aggressively?.

When violence broke out, two of his friends - Darrel Beales and a girl who cannot be named - joined in, kicking Mr Roberts in the face and punching him.

Beales, aged 24, of Mary Slessor Street, Willenhall, Coventry, received an eight- month sentence, although the judge conceded he had originally tried to ?calm? the situation.

Beales and the girl - aged 15 at the time of the attack - pleaded guilty to wounding Mr Roberts.

Sentence on the girl, now 16 who has two cautions for assault, was deferred for six months by the judge, to see ?if she could turn her life around.?

Judge Eccles, sentencing Newbold, said: ?In the course of the evening you were bragging to some of the people in the pub of how you were a ?hard man?. I take the view your behaviour was highly provocative and offensive, and not what I would expect for a prisoner on licence. I?m satisfied that provocation was likely to result in trouble.?

Newbold was sentenced to serve 12 months of his previous sentence, three years for attacking Mr Roberts and 12 months, to run concurrently, for affray.